The tricks the twins play on the ghost border on cruelty and are "funny" in a slapstick, pie-in-the-face way. This humor is perhaps most reminiscent of the old "Three Stooges" show that has more or less been taken out of circulation, in which the "stooges" are endlessly poking each other in the eyes, twisting each others' noses, hitting each other, etc. But taking this all as good fun--and the ghost is arguably a fair target...
The tricks the twins play on the ghost border on cruelty and are "funny" in a slapstick, pie-in-the-face way. This humor is perhaps most reminiscent of the old "Three Stooges" show that has more or less been taken out of circulation, in which the "stooges" are endlessly poking each other in the eyes, twisting each others' noses, hitting each other, etc. But taking this all as good fun--and the ghost is arguably a fair target as he is trying to scare the family--perhaps the funniest scene in Canterville is the one in which the ghost dresses up as Reckless Rupert or the Headless Earl. He spends a good deal of time on this costume, three hours we are told, donning tall boots and pistol. He is completely determined to scare the twins, so he dramatically swings the door to their room open to reveal himself, only to have a jug of water fall down on him, getting him wet and just missing hitting his shoulder. Luckily, he doesn't have his head with him, or as he thinks, the consequences could have been serious. The water does give him a cold and he decides not to try to scare the twins again. The story is funny because of the headless aspect and because of how the twins once again outwit the ghost.
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